EPA v. Westchester Joint Water Works

Case summary

On September 23, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered EPA�s consent decree (CD) with the Defendant, resolving its noncompliance with the water filtration requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The CD compels compliance by the Defendant and three towns that receive water (Harrison and the Town and Village of Mamaroneck) by requiring the construction of a filtration plant. The Defendants failed to ensure that the water system, which supplies drinking water to approximately 120,000 Westchester County residents, complies with federal limits for certain disinfection byproducts and failed to implement necessary corrective actions, including building a filtration plant required by an EPA administrative order, to ensure long-term protection for recipients. The injunctive relief required by the CD is estimated to cost about $207 million, and the settlement also requires payment of a $600,000 penalty and includes a $900,000 source water protection SEP.

Defendants (4)

• Westchester Joint Water WorksNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Town/Village of HarrisonNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Village of MamaroneckNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Town of MamaroneckNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• WESTCHESTER JOINT WATER WORKS-TREATMENT PLANT 830 LAKE STREET

  687 WEAVER ST, LARCHMONT, NY, 105381015

  Registry ID: 110004439714

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1412/1414 — National Drinking Water Regulations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Westchester Joint Water Worksentered 2024-09-23

  Primary law: SDWA

  Federal penalty: $600,000 · State/local: $650,000 · SEP: $900,000

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2021-02-24Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2021-03-04Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2024-06-24Final Order Lodged
• 2024-06-24Complaint Filed With Court
• 2024-09-23Final Order Entered